In this study we will attempt to discern which is more favorable to a consumer - a public space with three ATMs located together, with one line, or one where they are located separately from each other in a large building. Using random variables we have set up a simulation providing us with data for customer wait times at both ATM scenarios. Through analysis of this data, we hope to gain insight into which particular placement of ATMs is more convenient for the customer. At the end, we will also briefly discuss which scenario might be better for the bank.
First, we will look to see which scenario, separate or together, has the most arrivals at the ATM who are forced to wait in long lines. The overall average waiting time for the 18 trials we ran, with the ATMs located separately, was 1.43 minutes. However, with the three ATMs place together, the overall average time of wait was only .18 minutes, or 10.8 seconds. Considering it takes 1 minute for each customer to make their transaction, a period of close to 1.5 minutes would seem to be a long wait - especially compared to a wait of only about 11 seconds. In this we, it would seem to be far more convenient for the customer if the ATMs were placed together. With them placed together, the overall average number of people waiting at any given time is 6.5, while with them placed separately, the average is19.5. From this we can see that with the ATMs placed together, a customer is less likely to have to wait in a line, and if there were a line, they would have to wait for a significantly shorter period of time, comparatively, than if the ATMs were separately. .
It should be noted that the average for the separate scenario was inflated due to some very large wait times, many up to around 5 minutes long. Thus the range of wait times for the separate scenario went from 0 to 5.5 minutes long. This marks a sharp contrast to the variability from the together scenario, which varied from 0 to about .
